by Maurice Ravel, arr. Ralph Hardimon
8 players
Instrumentation: Glockenspiel, Xylophone, 2 vibraphones, 3 marimbas—low A, 5 timpani, Triangle
Originally conjured for the 1989 Santa Clara Vanguard pit for their I&E performance that year by percussion legend Ralph Hardimon, this arrangement of the Prélude from Ravel’s famous suite for piano, Le Tombeau de Couperin, is finally available to the world writ large.
Adapted straight from the orchestrated masterpiece, Le Tombeau de Couperin: Prélude demands virtuosity out of the mallet players. Very fast parts at soft dynamic levels and sensitivity to phrasing are part of handling Ravel's clever harmonic direction in this colorful arrangement by Hardimon. Elements weave together constantly, and lines are handed off right and left — all the while staying light and airy.
While requiring a good deal of technical stamina, this arrangement sparkles in how it showcases a percussion choir’s ability to adapt orchestral literature with original intent intact!
This piece comes with a full, bound score and includes a CD-Rom containing an audio recording and all individual parts available for printing.
